Supporting attachment for tables and the like



June 17, 1941. v. BISKA ETAL 2,246,120

SUPPORTING ATTACHMENT FOR TABLES AND THE LIKE Filed May 22, 1939Patented June 17, 1941 carries :s'r

amen] -surroa rmdn'rmonmniw FOR "rieza'rzss AND'IHELIKE''yintatisiraniis, anafrahn i liiiaas.

I 7 Chicago, Ill.

Application ray 2-2, 1939,Serial No.-27 4,922'

'2 claims. 2(o1. eta-fiat) ence to "the accompanying drawing forming a Ypart of this specification and in which Fig. 1 is a side view of asupporting attachment embodying the invention and shown in position ofuse, attached to the edge of a table;

Fig. 2 an enlarged top plan view of the supporting attachment removed;

Fig. 3 an outer end view of the same;

Fig. 4 a view of a modified form of construction illustrated as attachedto the apron of a table;

Fig. 5 an enlarged top plan view of the attachment shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 an outer end view corresponding with Fig. 5.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 consistsof a combined clamping and supporting member made from a single piece ofspring wire, the central portion of which is bent to form onesubstantially rectangular clamping jaw l adapted and arranged to clampflat against the under side of a table top I I as shown in Fig. 1. Theinner ends of the clamping jaw Ii! are extended downwardly and forwardlyto form the portions l2, then upwardly to form the portions l3 extendingabove the table top, then inwardly to contact with each other formingthe portions M, then inwardly in contact with each other forming theportions l5, said portions l being preferably electrically weldedtogether. The inner ends of the portions [5 are then extended inwardlyand divergently and then outwardly to form the loops l6 and a clampingjaw in parallel relation with said jaw 10, the outer portions of saidloops being then bent downwardly past the outer edge of the table top toform the vertical bars I! lying adjacent said vertical bars I3, saidadjacent bars l3 and I! being electrically welded together at theirupper portions to increase the spring action of the clamp thus formed.

The lower ends of the vertical bars I! are then extended rearwardly inparallel relation to form the bars- 18 and'then "divergently'to farm thebars 1'9, the 'inn'rends or the bars 19 being-formed into spring hingecoils 20 as shown. v The lower ends of the cells '20 are '"eigtended"outwardly to 'form the side bars 2| 'o'f'a supporting 'franie, the

outer ends of the cars "2'1beingjeiit'enddtoward 'each'ot'hertocontacta'rid tl'i'en inward y to term "the medial bars 23 6fthefrafiia'saidbars '23 pa e preferably"electricallyWeldedtoeacl'ijdthfer. At their rear ends tlie'rbar's '23ia'r extended di-V'er'gently andi'nwardly to" form the frai'ne bars 24 an"d the outer ends25"or said frame 'bars"ar electrically welded to the side bars 2| adjacenthinge coils 20 as best shown in Fig. 2. A metallicsplit sleeve .26 ispreferably clam'ped. over the inner ends-of the bars, 22 to.ffirmlysecure thesam'e to gether and constitute a handle or finger piece.

By this arrangement a combined spring clamp and supporting member isprovided made from a single piece of spring wire which is adapted andarranged to be clamped to the edge of a table top or the like asindicated in Fig. 1. As shown, the clamping jaws are arranged toco-operate with each other. to clamp a table edge or the likeinsubstantially parallel relation and so that the pressure thereof willnot be concentrated at any one point but will be uniformly distributedso as to avoid marring or damage to a table top. When so mounted, thesupporting frame 2|--2223- 24-25 constitutes a downwardly yieldingsupport which may be readily swung downwardly to receive a ladys purseor the like and will automatically swing upwardly under the springaction of the coiled hinges 20 to clamp and hold said purse or otherarticle, as will be readily understood. By this arrangement a simple andconvenient supporting attachment is provided which may be readilyattached to restaurant tables or the like for the obvious convenience ofthe patrons or persons using said tables. The specific form andarrangement of parts is a simple and efiective one for the purpose.

If desired, the bars of the clamping members It! and I6 may be coveredwith rubber to prevent marring of the polished table tops and the splitsleeve 26 also covered with rubber to facilitate handling of the same.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, aclamp is shown adapted and arranged to attach to the apron of a table.To this end the central portion of the spring wire is bent to form arectangular clamping jaw 21 adapted to fit against and engage the innerside of the apron 28 of the table II. The sides of the clamping jaw 21are then extended inwardly and downwardly to form the side bars 29 andthen outwardly beyond the outer edge of the apron 28. At the outer edgeof the apron, the wires are extended toward each other to form the bars30 and then upwardly in contact with each other to form the bars 3|, thebars 3| being electrically welded together. The upper ends of the bars3| are then extended upwardly and divergently and then downwardly toform the loops and side bars 32 and 33, the lower ends of the side bars33 being extended rearwardly to form the side bars 34 in contact withthe corresponding side bars of the clamping member and beingelectrically Welded thereto. At their rear ends the side bars 34 areextended upwardly to form the vertical bars 35 and then rearwardly inparallel relation to form the parallel bars 36 leading to the forwardends of the divergent bars l9 which in turn lead to the coiled hinges 20as before. By this arrangement a spring clamp is provided by means ofwhich the attachment may be readily secured to and mounted on the loweredge of the apron 28 of a table or the like. Otherwise the constructionand operation is the same as that already described.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying the invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation to form one jaw of a spring clamp adapted and arranged toengage over the edge of a table or the like and rest fiat against theunderside thereof, the sides of said clamp jaw being bent downwardly andoutwardly and then upwardly to extend above the top of the table, thentoward each other to contact and be secured together, then inwardly anddivergently and then outwardlyand downwardly to form the other springclamping jaw in parallel relation with said first mentioned jaw,

- the ends of said wire being then extended in wardly and divergently,formed into coiled spring hinges, and then outwardly to the edge of thetable, then toward each other into contact and inwardly and divergentlyto form a downwardly swinging supporting frame.

2. An attachment of the class described made from'a single piece ofspring wire bent centrally to form one jaw of a spring clamp adapted andarranged to engage over the lower edge of a table apron or the like, thesides of said clamp jaw being bent downwardly and inwardly and thenoutwardly to extend beyond the outer side of the table apron, thentoward each other to contact and be secured together, then outwardly anddivergently and then inwardly and'upwardly to form the other springclamping jaw, the ends of said wire being then extended inwardly anddivergently, formed into coiled spring hinges, and then outwardly to theedge of the table, then toward each other into contact and inwardly anddivergently to form a downwardly swinging supporting frame. I VINCENTBISKA. JOHN F. BAAS.

